CO129-498-16 Port Development Department- reversion to status of sub-department of the Public Works Department 26-4-1926 - 22-6-1926 — Page 9

HUNG A92

CONFIDENTIAL (2)

sir.

for

`CF-11104/26 H Kong

190

Downing Street,

22

June, 1936.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of

your Confidential despatch of the 36th of April requesting my sanation for the instructions which you have given for the Port Development Department to revert to the status of a sub-department of the Public Works Dentnent.

I should prefer to defer a final decision in the matter until i have received and have had an opportunity of considering the report of wie Imperial shipping Gorväittee, to whom, as you are aware, the question of the policy which should be followed in regard to the development of Hong Kong Harbour has been referred.

3. In a separate despatch I am informing you that I approve of Mr.Baker ro-jeining the staff of the Railway Department.

For the present, I see no objection to the Fort Development Department being regarded as a sub-department of the Public Works Department and continuing in the enarge of Er.Adam Andersen.

neve the banjur te

Your meat eb-dient

hanie servant,

GOVNIFOR

SIK C.CLEMENTI,K.C.ú. U

(Signed) L. S. AMERY

Pag

Pag

NO CONFIDENTIAL.

Sir,

C.11104

31 MAY, 1926

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG. 26th April, 1926.

e 10

22 JUN 1926

Gov 1893

་

-

And Cons (2)

I have the honour to refer to the establishment

of the Port Development Department as a separate department from the Public Works Department which was recommended in 24 Sir R. E. Stubbs' Confidential despatch of 14th March, 1924, and approved in Mr. Thomas' Confidential despatch of 5th May, 1924.

2.

I have carefully considered the arguments which have been advanced in favour of the change, as well as the practical effect of the new departure; and I am fully satisfied that the old arrangement whereby questions affecting the development of the Harbour were dealt with by a branch of the Public Works Department, under the direct control of the Director of Public Works, conduces to greater co-ordination of policy and the smoother working of the public service than does the creation of what is in effect a second Public Works Department independent of the Director of Public Works and yet in constant contact with him.

3.

I have therefore given instructions for the

Port Development Department to revert to the status of a sub-department of the Public Works Department, and I shall

be glad if I may have your sanction for this return to the

old arrangement. The officer in charge of the Port

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LIEUTENANT COLONEL L.C.M.S. AMERY, M.P.,

&c.,

&C.,

&c.

Development

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